Christmas is starting early this year on Wightlink’s flagship St Clare, which operates between Fishbourne and Portsmouth.
Customers travelling on Saturdays from now until Christmas will be treated to free mince pies from popular bakery Greggs – soon to be installed on board – and there will be live entertainment including carol singing, sea shanties and brass band music. Wightlink’s friendly elf will also be reading stories to children on selected Saturday sailings by the onboard Christmas tree.
Head of Marketing, Mark Persad, said:
“We wanted to help our customers get into the holiday mood right from the moment they step on board.
“A tasty mince pie and some seasonal music will make the crossing to and from the Island even more special than usual this year.”
All of this will take place between 11:00 and 15:00 and the entertainment will include:
- Saturday 6 December: The Junior Highbury Area Band will be performing a compilation of music.
- Saturday 13 December: Island band The Crew will be singing traditional sea shanty songs
- Saturday 20 December: Wightlink’s very own reception officer Kellie Parratt will be singing Christmas classics
In addition, on 6th December, Island charity Young Enterprise will be holding a trade fair on board St Clare. Young entrepreneurs from schools across the Island will be selling Christmas gifts on the 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00 sailings from Fishbourne.
Early in 2015, St Clare will go into dry dock for her annual refit and the first floating branch of Greggs will be installed. This is part of the £800,000 refurbishment of deck four which will also include new comfortable chairs and sofas, a children’s play area, gaming arcade and Sound Box area with screens and music for younger passengers.
There will be Christmas trees this year at Portsmouth Gunwharf, Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier Head, provided by Shide Christmas Trees.
